I had the opportunity to visit the landing beaches last year, a couple of weeks after the anniversary celebrations. The road that runs along the coast joining the various beaches is narrow and where it passes through villages it has walls separating residential properties from the road, the houses don’t set back too far from the road. Almost all the walls were decorated with banners and flags representing the allied nations. I asked the tour guide if they were left over from the anniversary celebrations to which she responded that the banners stay up all year, every year. The residents have not forgotten and are very grateful. A very sobering day.
